The Whitehorse Recreational Hockey League finished up the first half of the regular season last week with a few last-minute games before Christmas.

League president Andrew Connors said the only problem so far has been too many players and not enough ice time in Whitehorse to let them all play.

"There's more than enough teams,” Connors said. "We had to turn away players at the beginning of the year because we didn't have enough ice.”

The league splits games between the Canada Games Centre and Takhini Arena, but between those three rinks, there are just too many hockey lovers in Whitehorse to fit them all in.

Besides that Connors said they have enjoyed a great season of hockey so far.

"It's been a good season so far,” Connors said.

Connors has noticed the players improving, and the hockey has gotten more entertaining.

"I think the level of play has increased,” he said. "It makes for good hockey.”

At the beginning of the season the scores were climbing into the double digits for some teams as players got used to their skates again, but Connors said that has evened out.

"The scores aren't horribly lopsided for the most part,” Connors said.

While the players have stepped up their game, Connors said there is always room for more.

"There's still some improvement that can be had between the top and bottom,” he said, referring to the league's leading teams and those trailing behind.

"There are a few teams that are truly developing,” Connors said.

Besides the regular league games, the teams have been taking on the Midget Mustangs B team on Saturdays. Connors said the games have been fun.

"It would be great if we could include them in the league,” he said.

As for attendance, the seats have for the most part been empty, besides a few saved for family and friends of the players.

"It's been pretty modest,” said Connors.

But the league president isn't concerned, because raging spectators aren't what the games are all about.

"We're not playing for the crowd,” Connors said, adding that the rec league is all about having fun.

When the season resumes in January the rec league will have two more months of regular season games before heading into the playoffs to decide the 2009/2010 champions.

From Feb. 26-28, the league will enter into the Rendezous Tournament as well.

Whitehorse Rec Hockey League results Dec. 20

A division

Roadhouse 13, Yukon Appliance 4

This high scoring game played at the Canada Games Centre featured the Roadhouse and Yukon Appliance.

Roadhouse scored seven goals in the first period, with six coming later on in the second.

Scoring for Roadhouse

Matt Horsey started off the game with a quick goal in the first minute of the game.

He added his second goal with nine minutes left in the second, and was credited with two assists.

Mark King led the game in assists, racking up five in the game and getting two goals in the first period.

Ryan Hodgins had two goals, the first coming 13 minutes into the game, the second with four minutes left to push the score to 13. He also had three assists.

Luke Johnson had two back to back goals seven minutes apart in the first period with another in the second period. He had one assist.

Scott Horsey had one goal with 31 seconds left in the first period, and assisted on four goals.

Jessie Allan Richie scored his first goal of the game to kick off the second period, and added another with just over five minutes to go.

Matt Kremer's first goal was the second last of the game with five minutes left, coming just 30 seconds after Richie's.

Scoring for Yukon Appliance

Aaron Pettitt answered for Yukon Appliance with two goals in the first six minutes apart and an assist.

Rob Wells added a goal in the first three minutes of the second, followed by a goal from Spencer Thomlin, who had three assists as well, three minutes later but it wasn't enough to lift Yukon Appliance over Roadhouse.

– – –

Dec. 21

Cinderwood/Air North 6, Midget Mustangs 3

Cinderwood/Air North had a slow first period, scoring only one goal with five minutes left, giving the Midget Mustangs no idea of what was to come next, when they chipped in five shots to the Mustangs' three to steal the win.

Scoring for Cinderwood/Air North

Ryan Kinney got the first period goal that set the scoring in motion. Kinney was credited with two assists later in the game.

Three and a half minutes in to the second, Curt Campbell got the second goal of the game for Cinderwood.

Burt Stephens had the next goal at the 11 minute mark, and added two assists.

Kirk Gale scored with just over seven minutes left.

With 2:42 left in the game, Frank Aucoin scored a goal and added an assist to the exciting final goal of the game scored by Jaxon Glass, that came with just 18 seconds left. Glass also had an assist.

Scoring for the Midget Mustangs

Mustang Travis Park scored the first goal for the Mustangs almost halfway into the second period.

With just over four minutes left Brett Roulston pitched in a goal in an attempt to save the Mustangs, and was followed minutes later by Zack Moses' goal at 1:40.

B division

Dec. 20

Envirolube 5, Narrow Gauge 2

Envirolube kicked off the scoring almost at the halfway point to the first period at 11:46, followed by a goal from Narrow Gauge at 7:41. In the second Envirolube held off their opponents despite a last minute goal for Narrow Gauge with 30 seconds left.

Scoring for Envirolube

Dave Rach scored the first goal of the game to start things off.

With three minutes left Envirolube kicked in two goals off the sticks of Pete Mostyn, who added an assist and Rob Dawe.

The second period saw Matt Burdenie score a goal barely three minutes in at 17:19. He added an assist to the game as well, before Mostyn ended the game with the final goal.

Scoring for Narrow Gauge

Alex Vantour scored in the first period. His effort would seem like the team's only goal, until Tim Hogan surprised with a goal with 36 seconds left to end the game.